Xiaomi Phone unlock requirements and procedure: Difference between revisions

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-The following are some of the requirements/procedures needed to unlock a Xiaomi phone, as stated in their [https://new.c.mi.com/global/post/101245 FAQ]
+{{Incomplete}}
+{{GuideNotice}}
+Most [[Xiaomi]] phones come with a bootloader that might be able to [[Bootloader unlocking|unlock]], but unlike the [https://source.android.com/docs/core/architecture/bootloader/locking_unlocking Android's default unlocking procedure], Xiaomi had the following requirements in 2022:<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Paul |first=J C |title=Complete Guide to Unlocking the Bootloader: Announcement, Troubleshoot and Tips |url=https://new.c.mi.com/global/post/101245 |website=Xiaomi Community |date=20 Aug 2022 |access-date=19 Dec 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220902130654/https://new.c.mi.com/global/post/101245 |archive-date=2 Sep 2022}}</ref>
-* Xiaomi requires users to create and link a Xiaomi account to their phone (and accept the [https://static.account.xiaomi.com/html/agreement/user/global/en_US.html EULA] for creating an account), and keep it linked for at least a week
+*The user must create and link a Xiaomi account to their phone
-** Stated directly in the  EULA is the following<blockquote>6. Modification of this Agreement Xiaomi may need to revise this Agreement and various rules from time to time in accordance with the promulgation of laws and regulations, the development of the Internet, and the adjustment of the company's operating conditions and business strategies. We will notify you of the new agreement in an appropriate manner, and you may view the latest version of the terms of the agreement on the relevant service page. **Once the revised agreement and rules are announced, they will take effect immediately and become an integral part of this Agreement. If you do not agree to the modified terms, you shall immediately discontinue your use of our services.** Your continued access or use of our services shall be deemed as your acceptance of the modified agreement.</blockquote>
+**This requires accepting the [https://static.account.xiaomi.com/html/agreement/user/global/en_US.html EULA] for creating an account
-* Xiaomi requires users to attempt an unlock and wait a week before attempting again <blockquote>Click on Unlock » Unlock anyway. On your first attempt, Mi Unlock will flash the message _Couldn’t unlock. Please unlock 168 hours later._ Follow the timer / waiting period to unlock successfully.</blockquote>
+***Stated directly in the  EULA is the following<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=Xiaomi Account User Agreement |url=https://static.account.xiaomi.com/html/agreement/user/global/en_US.html |website=Xiaomi |date= |access-date=19 Dec 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250120091426/https://static.account.xiaomi.com/html/agreement/user/global/en_US.html |archive-date=20 Jan 2025}}</ref><blockquote>6. Modification of this Agreement Xiaomi may need to revise this Agreement and various rules from time to time in accordance with the promulgation of laws and regulations, the development of the Internet, and the adjustment of the company's operating conditions and business strategies. We will notify you of the new agreement in an appropriate manner, and you may view the latest version of the terms of the agreement on the relevant service page. '''Once the revised agreement and rules are announced, they will take effect immediately and become an integral part of this Agreement. If you do not agree to the modified terms, you shall immediately discontinue your use of our services.''' Your continued access or use of our services shall be deemed as your acceptance of the modified agreement.</blockquote>
-* Xiaomi requires users to be using an Intel based PC to unlock their phone (However, other CPU vendors work fine with the unlock tool on Linux)
+*The user must use the [https://en.miui.com/unlock/download_en.html official Mi Unlock app] (only available for [[Windows]])
-* Unlocking your phone will void your phone's warranty
+*For certain devices, Xiaomi requires users to <ref name=":0" /><!-- I'm pretty sure the countdown can be longer in some cases, at least 15 days, I think I've even encountered as much as 4 weeks. There are reports that the wait time can be bypassed by signing into a different mi account with unlock permissions on both the phone and unlocking WIndows app after first requesting the unlock, but I have not tried this. --> <blockquote>Click on Unlock » Unlock anyway. On your first attempt, Mi Unlock will flash the message ''Couldn’t unlock. Please unlock 168 hours later.'' Follow the timer / waiting period to unlock successfully.</blockquote>
-* You can only unlock one phone every 30 days and 4 phones every year
+*Effective January 2025, Xiaomi has updated its bootloader unlocking policy to make it difficult for users to unlock the bootloaders on their devices. The updates include but are not limited to:<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bardakçı |first=Emir |date=30 Dec 2024 |title=Xiaomi global bootloader unlock policy has changed |url=https://xiaomitime.com/xiaomi-global-bootloader-unlock-policy-has-changed-20295/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250610163620/https://xiaomitime.com/xiaomi-updates-the-rules-about-bootloader-unlocking-on-hyperos-20175/ |archive-date=10 Jun 2025 |access-date=10 Jun 2025 |website=XiaomiTime}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bardakçı |first=Emir |date=2024-12-26 |title=Xiaomi updates the rules about Bootloader Unlocking on HyperOS |url=https://xiaomitime.com/xiaomi-updates-the-rules-about-bootloader-unlocking-on-hyperos-20175/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250610163620/https://xiaomitime.com/xiaomi-updates-the-rules-about-bootloader-unlocking-on-hyperos-20175/ |archive-date=10 Jun 2025 |access-date=10 Jun 2025 |website=XiaomiTime}}</ref>
+**Limiting users to only one device bootloader unlock per year, down from three
+**Bootloaders need to be re-locked for MIUI users to update to HyperOS
+**Only 2,000 devices per day can be unlocked across the world.<ref>{{Cite web |author=bartoszsz7 |title=New bootloader unlocking procedure on HyperOS |url=https://old.reddit.com/r/Xiaomi/comments/1ag4fsh/new_bootloader_unlocking_procedure_on_hyperos/ |website=[[Reddit]] |date=1 Feb 2024 |access-date=19 Dec 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251220012722/https://old.reddit.com/r/Xiaomi/comments/1ag4fsh/new_bootloader_unlocking_procedure_on_hyperos/ <!-- Do NOT use new sub-domain. -Sojourna --> |archive-date=20 Dec 2025}}</ref> People are using bots to login at midnight (Chinese time), when the 2,000 slots are released — making unlocking practically impossible.<ref name="AQLR" />
+**An attempt to unlock the bootloader of a device made for the China market will show as error 20045, as shown on [https://xdaforums.com/t/i-cannot-unlock-boot-loader-not-able-to-register-the-phone.4698691/ xdaforums]. This is unavoidable unless you have a Chinese Xiaomi account and you are in China.<ref>{{Cite web |author=电竞小先锋 |date=10 Feb 2025 |title=小米2025年BootLoader解锁新规解析及影响 |trans-title=Analysis and Impact of Xiaomi's New Regulations on Bootloader Unlocking in 2025 |url=https://baijiahao.baidu.com/s?id=1828801948887224251&wfr=spider&for=pc |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251018041935/https://mbd.baidu.com/newspage/data/landingsuper?id=1828801948887224251&wfr=&third=baijiahao&baijiahao_id=1828801948887224251&c_source=kunlun&c_score=0.999000&p_tk=1269dwqAVmK5CrvpJCXkYGqG2%2B1B0sdeDRr9JcT2M6c0UyLFCvR7WWj9XEspUVBan5qBVYBlOy3bEHOhV%2B2bkW2bD8h9NXpMH1T2P6abb07kGjFJLZAbNqnzoMRBkXzNTMDgfg%2ByOfqgm2s6qCe91s9qxg%3D%3D&p_timestamp=1760761044&p_sign=9b8bc844e1e6cec6f9db6815f6e618c5&p_signature=96f6c1e8f437370c45bb105be9a179d1&__pc2ps_ab=1269dwqAVmK5CrvpJCXkYGqG2%2B1B0sdeDRr9JcT2M6c0UyLFCvR7WWj9XEspUVBan5qBVYBlOy3bEHOhV%2B2bkW2bD8h9NXpMH1T2P6abb07kGjFJLZAbNqnzoMRBkXzNTMDgfg%2ByOfqgm2s6qCe91s9qxg%3D%3D%7C1760761044%7C96f6c1e8f437370c45bb105be9a179d1%7C9b8bc844e1e6cec6f9db6815f6e618c5 |archive-date=18 Oct 2025 |access-date=18 Oct 2025 |website=百度首页 |lang=zh}}</ref>[[File:Xiaomi Error 20045.jpg|center|thumb|What the 20045 error looks like (account location not matching vendor location).]]
+===Ways around the limitations===
+On some MediaTek-based devices, users with advanced technical skills can try unofficial means such as using [https://github.com/bkerler/mtkclient mtkclient] to try and unlock the bootloader without going through the official Xiaomi procedure. This should be done at the ''users' own risk'', as it voids the warranty, may brick the device and/or lock the device out from all official means of unlocking.
+As of 2025 there is still a way to get round the limited number of authorizations for the many Xiaomi devices with Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, which was working with devices running HyperOS 3 in 2025.<ref name="AQLR">{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=How to unlock bootloader on Xiaomi HyperOS(all devices,except CN). <!-- Title is correct. -Sojourna --> |url=https://xdaforums.com/t/how-to-unlock-bootloader-on-xiaomi-hyperos-all-devices-except-cn.4654009/ |website=XDA Forums |date=1 Feb 2024 |access-date=19 Dec 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260206073026/https://xdaforums.com/t/how-to-unlock-bootloader-on-xiaomi-hyperos-all-devices-except-cn.4654009/ |archive-date=6 Feb 2026 }}</ref> Other ways published in the past no longer worked.
+==References==
+{{Reflist}}
 [[Category:Xiaomi]]